Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A variable ratio hydraulic master-cylinder including a housing having a stepped bore, with a smaller diameter section and larger diameter section, a stepped piston slidably mounted in the stepped bore to define in said smaller diameter section a high pressure chamber adapted to be connected to a utilizing circuit and in said larger diameter section an annular low pressure chamber and a relief compartment adapted to be connected to a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a first passage in the said piston to connect through a first valve the low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber, said first valve allowing fluid to flow from said low pressure chamber into said high pressure chamber but impeding fluid flow in the reverse direction, a second passage in the said piston to connect through a spring-biased second valve the low pressure chamber to the relif compartment, said second valve being moved in its opened position when the differential of pressures between the low pressure chamber and the relief compartment is above a predetermined level, characterized in further including a third valve for interrupting fluid flow from said low pressure chamber into said reservoir and control means for operating said third valve into its closed position when the stroke of the stepped piston from its rest position is increased above a predetermined length due to an insufficiency of hydraulic fluid in said high pressure chamber to pressurize said utilizing circuit, said third valve means remaining in its closed position when the stepped piston moves through a stroke less than the predetermined length, but sufficient to generate a pressure level capable of actuating the vehicle brakes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A variable ratio hydraulic master-cylinder including a housing having a stepped bore, with a smaller diameter section and larger diameter section, a stepped piston slidably mounted in the stepped bore to define in said smaller diameter section a high pressure chamber adapted to be connected to a utilizing circuit and in said larger diameter section an annular low pressure chamber and a relief compartment adapted to be connected to a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a first passage in the said piston to connect through a first valve the low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber, said first valve allowing fluid to flow from said low pressure chamber into said high pressure chamber but impeding fluid flow in the reverse direction, a second passage in the said piston to connect through a spring-biased second valve the low pressure chamber to the relif compartment, said second valve being moved in its opened position when the differential of pressures between the low pressure chamber and the relief compartment is above a predetermined level, characterized in further including a third valve for interrupting fluid flow from said low pressure chamber into said reservoir and control means for operating said third valve into its closed position when the stroke of the stepped piston from its rest position is increased above a predetermined length due to an insufficiency of hydraulic fluid in said high pressure chamber to pressurize said utilizing circuit, said third valve means remaining in its closed position when the stepped piston moves through a stroke less than the predetermined length, but sufficient to generate a pressure level capable of actuating the vehicle brakes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A master-cylinder according to claim 1 characterized in that said third valve is located in said second passage, said control means including a force transmitting element having one end projecting into said high pressure chamber and adapted to engage with an abutment in case of insufficiency of hydraulic fluid in said high pressure chamber to pressurize said utilizing circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A master cylinder according to claim 2 wherein the other end of the force transmitting element projects through said first passage into said second to engage the movable member of said second valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A master-cylinder according to claim 3, wherein said movable member of said second valve is a part of said control means, said third valve including a valve element mounted on a fixture through a retractable resilient connection, said fixture being biased in engagement with the movable member of said second valve by a spring abutting on said stepped piston.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A master-cylinder according to claim 4, wherein said fixture is a sleeve, the inner bore of which receiving the head of a stem secured to said valve element, said sleeve being provided with a lateral aperture for introducing said head within said inner bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A master-cylinder according to claim 5, wherein said force transmitting element is a pin slidably mounted within a sleeve having opposite ends projecting into said high pressure chamber and said first passage, said other end of said force transmitting element being expanded to be engaged by said sleeve, stop means connected to said stepped piston being provided to limit the displacements of said sleeve towards said second valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A master-cylinder according to anyone of claim 2 wherein said abutment is fixed to said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A master-cylinder according to anyone of claim 2 wherein said master-cylinder is of the tandem type having a floating piston separating said high pressure chamber from a front chamber, said abutment being fixed to said floating piston.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A master cylinder according to claim 8, wherein said floating piston is sliding in a third section of said bore, the diameter of said third section being larger than the diameter of said smaller diameter section and not more than the diameter of said larger diameter.